Automatic electric regulator.



W. L. BLISS. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED JANHG, 1905.

1,025,559. Patented May '7, 1912.

' 2 SHEETSSHBET l.

W/TNESSES: IIVI/E/VTOR WL'ZZz'am L Bliss ATTORNEYS W L. BLISS. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1905.

Patented May 7, 1912.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M/VE/VTOR [Vi/Zia??? L. Bliss WITNESSES.

nrromvsys UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM L. BLISS,

TO THE UNITED STATES CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMATIC ELEGTRIO REGULATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known -that I, WILLIAM L. Buss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in 'Automatic Electric Regulators, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

The resent invention relates to improvements in automatic electric regulators, and especially to relays which may be employed to control the operation of such regulators.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an electro-responsive relay which will be sensitive enough to respond to slight variations in the electrical conditions and which will also be stable in operation.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the relay is provided with a fluidpressure responsive device which is adapted to operate different instrumentalities. The fluid pressure responsive device is provided with means which are adapted to regulate the pressure upon the same, said means being actuated by an electro-magnet. The pressure upon the fluid pressure responsive device depends upon the strength of the electro-J'nagnet, it being varied according to variations in the strength of the electr'o-magnet, thereby causing the relay to respond upon variations'in the electrical conditions to which the electro-magnet is subjected.

The relay is especially adapted to be employed for controlling the operation of automatic electric regulators for car lighting systems, as the operation thereof is so stable that it is capable of being subjected to the vibrations which exist upon railroad cars without the operation thereof being de- 4 ranged.

The present invention will be explained by the apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings, but it will be unlimited to.the particular embodiment thereof which is shown in the drawings, so far as the generic features.

The drawings illustrate an automatic Specification of Letters Patent.

' pressed upon translatin Patented May 7, 1912.

Application filed January 6', 1905. Serial No. 239,924.

rheostat-which is employed to, regulate. the voltage impressed upon translating devices, said rheostat being operated by a motive power device. The operation of the motive power device is controlled by means which are actuated by a relay made in accordance with the present invention. The controlling magnet .01? the relay is connected across the circuit of the translating devices. .Upon variations 'in the voltage impressed upon the circuit of the translating devices, the strength of the electro-magnet will be varied, thereby causing the rheostat to be operated until the voltage impressed upon the translatingdevices is normal.

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNQR, BY ASSIGNMENTS,

LIGHT AND HEATING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A I

The views in the accompanying drawings 7 are as follows: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the regulating apparatus, the same being employed to regulate the voltage imdevices, and Fig. 2 is 'a sectional View 0 the electro-responsive relay which isemployed to control the operation of the motive power device for operating the regulator.

The translating devices 1 are preferably connected in parallel between the conductors 2 and 3 which receive current from the mains 4 and 5 of a supply circuit, said mains being connected to a source of electrical energy which develops a variable voltage. The conductor 3 is preferably connectedto the main 5 by a switch 6. I

The rheostat which is employed to regulate the voltage impressed upon the translating devices is preferably provided with a resistance 7, said resistance being connected to the main 4:. The resistance is divided into sections which are connected to insulated contacts 8, a movable brush 9 being in engagement with said contacts. The brush is preferably carried by a holder 10 which is slidably mounted upon a rod 11 and connected to the conductor 2 by a flexible connector 12. The current may flow from supply main 4 through resistance 7, brush 9, holder 10, connector 12, conductor 2, translating devices 1, conductor 3 and switch 6 to supply main 5.

The brush holder 10 is preferably carried by a piston rod 13 which is connected to a piston 14, said piston'being arranged;

Within a cylinder 15. The piston is moved up and down by compressed fluid which is admitted to the cylinder. The admission of fluid ,to the cylinder is preferably controlled by an operating valve 16 which is preferably provided with an upper port and a lower port. The operating valve is preferably arranged within a casing 17 which is preferably provided with an upper inlet port, a lower inlet port, an upper exhaust port, a lower exhaust port and a supply port. l/Vhen the valve, is in the midle or normal position thereof, the supply port is closed. If the valve be raised, the

upper inlet port will communicate with the upper exhaust port through the upper valve port, and the lower inlet port will communicate with the supply port through the lower valve port; but if the valve be lowered, the upper valve port will communicate with the supply port through the upper valve port and the lower inlet port will communicate with the lower exhaust port through the lower valve port. The operating fluid is supplied from any suitable source of fluid pressure supply which may communicate with the supply port through a pipe 18, said pipe preferably being provided with a cook 19. Where the automatic regulator is arranged upon a car, the supply pipe 18 may be connected to the compressed air tank which supplies compressed fluid for operating the air brakes.

The upper inlet port preferably communicates with the lower part of the cylinder 15 through a pipe 20 which is provided with a cook 21, and the lower inlet port preferably communicates with the upper part of said cylinder through a pipe 22 which is provided with a cook 23. 'The cocks 21 and 23 are provided for the purpose of enabling the flow of fluid to and from the cylinder 15 to be adjusted so that the motion of the piston may be made fast or slow. If the operating valve be raised, compressed fluid will be admitted to the upper part of the cylindesand in consequence the rheostat brush will be moved downwardly over the resistance contacts to increase the resistance in circuit with the translating devices, and if the operating valve be lowered, fluid will be admitted to the lower part'of the cylinder and in consequence the rheostat brush will be moved upwardly over the resistance contacts to increase the resistance in circuit with the translating devices.

The operating valve is preferably operated by electro-magnets 24 and 25, the magnet 24 being arranged to attract a plunger 26 mounted upon the upper end of the valve and the electromagnet 25 being arranged to attract a plunger 27 mounted the swinging end of said switch being ar-.

ranged between stationary contacts 32 and 33. The relay switch is preferably operated by an expansion diaphragm or casing 34 which is responsive to fluid pressure. The relay switch preferably bears against a pin 35 mounted upon the front of the expansion diaphragm, it being retained against said pin by a spring 36, one end of said spring being connected to the relay switch, and the other to a screw 37 which is connected to a post 38. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by a nut 39 carried by the screw 37 and bearing against the post 38. The screw is preferably provided with a lock nut 40.

The expansion diaphragm is adapted to respond to very slight changes in pressure. 'It may be assumed that sufficient pressure is exerted upon the diaphragm for the re law switch to stand out of engagement with both of the stationary contacts, as illustrated in the drawings. If the pressure within the expansion diaphragm be increased, the relay switch will be moved into engagement with the stationary contact 33, and if it be decreased, the relay switch will be moved into engagement with the stationary contact 32.

The fluid which operates the diaphragm is preferably delivered to a pressure chamber 41 through a pipe 42 which may be connected to the supply pipe 18. Upon one end of said chamber is preferably mounted a head '43 which is connected to a pipe 42, said head being provided with a passage 44; and upon the other end thereof is preferably mounted a head 45, which is connected to a socket 46, said socket preferably being mounted upon the back of the expansion diaphragm. The head 45 is pro vided with a passage 47 Which communicates with an aperture or port 48 in the back of the expansion diaphragm.

The pressure chamber is preferably pro vided with an escape vent through which the fluid entering said chamber may escape, said vent being in communication with an escape pipe 49. The escape of the fluid from the pressure chamber is preferablyv controlled by a valve 50 which may rest ary 'terminal 32 ispreferably connected to upon a seat which is provided upon the end of the escape pipe. preferably in the. preferably composed of magnetic material.

The escape valve is preferably attracted toward the seat thereof by a controlling electro-magnet. 51 which is preferably mounted upon a frame 52, said frame being arranged upon the escape pipe. The frame 52 maybe provided with'a set screw 53 for holding the same in place upon the escape pipe. The escape valve 50 is preferably surrounded by a cage 54 which is mounted upon the magnet frame. I

The pressure chamber is preferably provided with a fluidresistance 55 of cotton wool or other suitable material through which thefluid entering the pressure chamv ,ber percolates, said fluld resistance preferably being arranged between' foraminous partitions 56. The fluid resistance tends to prevent variations in the pressure upon said diaphragm when slight variations in the pressure of the fluid entering the pressure chamber occur. If the operating fluid be delivered to the pressure chambenat a moderate rate and also at a fairly uniform pressure, the pressure upon the diaphragm will be substantially constant so long as the rate at which the fluid escapes from the pressure chamber remains unchanged.

Upon variations in.,the strength of the controlling magnet 51 the rate at which the fluid escapes from the pressure chamber will be varied, thereby varying the pressure upon the diaphragm. If the strength of said controlling magnet increases, the pressure upon the diaphragm will. be increased; and it'the strength of said controlling magnet decreases, the pressure upon the diaphragm will be decreased. Upon an increase in pressure upon the diaphragm, the relay switch 30 will be moved into engagement with the stationary contact 33, and upon a decrease in pressure upon the diaphragm, said relay switch will be moved into engagement with the stationary contact 32. While the current which flows through the cont-rolling magnet remains normal, the relay switch 30 stands out of engagement with both of the stationary contacts. 1

The electro-magnet 51 is preferably arranged in circuit in shunt with the translating devices 1, one terminal thereof preferably-being connected to the conductor 2 by a conductor 57, and the other terminal thereof preferably being connected to the conductor 3 by a conductor 58. The relay switch is preferably connected to the conductor 58 by a conductor 59. The stationone terminal of the operating magnet 25 I by a conductor 60,and the other stationary The escape valve is form of a ball, and it is translating devices.

terminal 33 is preferably connected to one terminal of the operating magnet 24 by a conductor 61. The other terminal of each of said operating magnets 24 and 25 is preferably connected to the conductor 57 by aconductor 62. i

.The operating magnet 51 is energized by current flowing from conductor 2 through conductor 57, controlling magnet 51 and conductor 58 to conductor 3. If the relay switch be in, engagement with the stationary contact 33, the operating magnet 24 will be energized by current flowing from conductor 57 through conductor 62, electro-magnet 24,

,conductor 61, stationary contact 33, relay switch 30, base 31 and conductor'59 to conductor 58. 'If the relay switch be in engagement with" the stationary contact 32, the opcrating magnet 25' will be energized by current flowing from conductor 57 through conductor 62, electro-magnet 25, conductor 60, stationary contact 32, relay switch 30, base 31 and conductor 59 to conductor 58.

It may be assumed that the voltage across mains 4 and 5 of the supply circuit is greater than the voltage which should be impressed upon the translating devices, and

further, that the rheostat brush stands in such a position upon the resistance contacts that. suflicient resistance is included in circuit to maintain the proper voltage upon the While these conditions exist, the, pressure uponthe diaphragm will be such that the relay switch 30 will stand out of engagement with both of the stationary contacts, thereby opening the circuit of the operating magnets 24 and 25.

If the voltage upon the supply circuit rises, the strength of the controlling magnet 51 will increase and in consequence the pressure upon the diaphragm will be increased, thereby causing the relay switch to be moved into engagement withthe stationary contact 33 to close the circuit of the operating magnet 24. As the operating magnet 24 will then become energ1zed,'the operating valve will be raised to permit the operating fluid to flow from the supply pipe 18'through the supply port, 'lower valve port, lower inlet port, and pipe 22 to the upper part of the cylinder 15. The piston 14 will be forced downwardly by the pressure of the fluid entering the upper part of the cylinder, thereby moving the rheostat brush 9 over the resistance contacts 8 to insert more resistance in circuit with the translating devices. The fluid in the lower part of the cylinder will be exhausted through pipe 20, upper inlet port, upper valve port and upper exhaust port. When sufi'icient resistance has been inserted .in circuit to produce the proper voltage upon the translating ;devices, the strength of the thereby causing the pressure upon the diaphragm to be decreased until the relay switch is removed" from engagement with the stationary contact 33 to open the circuit of the operating magnet 24.. When the operating-magnet 24 becomes denergized, the operating valve will be returned to the normal position thereof, thereby stopping the\flow of fluid into the cylinder to arrest the further movement of the piston in a downward direction. I

If the voltage upon the supply circuit falls, the strength of the controlling magnet 51 will be decreased, and in consequence the pressure upon the diaphragm will be decreased, thereby causing the relay switch to be moved int-o engagement with the stationary contact 32 to close the circuit of the operating magnet 25. As the operating magnet 25 will then be energized, the operating valve will be lowered to permit the operating fluid to flow from supply pipe 18 through the supply port, upper valve port, upper inlet port, and pipe 20 to the lower part of the cylinder 15. The piston 14; will be forced upwardly by the pressure of the fluid in the lower part of the cylinder, thereby moving the rheostat brush 9 over the resistance contacts 8 to decrease the re sistance in circuit with the translating devices. The fluid in the upper part of the cylinder will be exhausted through pipe 22, lower inlet port, lower valve port and lower exhaust port. When \suflicient resistance has been removed from circuit to allow the proper voltage to be impressed upon the translating devices, the strength of the con trolling magnet 51 will become normal, thereby causing the pressure upon the diaphragm to be increased until the relay switch is removed from engagement with the stationary contact 32 to open the circuit of the'operating magnet 25. When the operating magnet 25 becomes deenergized, the operating valve will be returned to the normal position thereof, thereby stopping the flow of fluid into the cylinder to arrest the further movement of the piston. in an up wardly direction.

It is preferable to arrange the controlling magnet 51 in circuit in shunt with the trans- I lating devices, as then variations in current resulting from changes in the number of translating devices in operation may occur without the action of the automatic regulator being aifected, and hence the number of translating devices in operation may be increased or decreased and the current delivered thereto may vary accordingly.

As previously mentioned the automatic electric regulator which is provided by the present invention may be employed toregulate the voltage impressed upon the lamps and other translating devices in a car lighting system. The features of the regulator which make it especially adaptedfor such service have been previously mentioned herein. The regulator may be of various forms and may be employed for different purposes. to regulate the voltage impressed upon the translating devices as illustrated in the drawings, it is also especially adapted to regulate a generator which tends to develop a variable electromotive force. The fluid pressure responsive device of the relay may be arranged to operate the operating valve, instead of being arranged to operate the relay switch. Moreover, the relay may be applied to purposes other than those which have been set forth.

The claims in this application are all drawn to cover a regulator in which my improved relay is used. The relay device by itself is made the, subject of a divisional application, 469,418, relay, filed December 26, 1908.

It will be understood that the apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings may be changed in many-ways and still be within the purview of the claims of this application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1..11'1 combination, a regulator for a car lighting system, a motive power device for operating said regulator, means for controlling the operation of said motive power device, a fluid pressure responsive device for actuating said means and provided with an escape vent, a source of fluid pressure supply, a valve for controlling the escape of fluid through said vent, a seat for said valve, said valve being raised from said seat by the pressure of the fluid escaping through said vent, and an electro-magnet for actuating said valve to vary the pressure upon said fluid pressure responsive device.

2. In combination, a regulator for a car lighting system, a fluid pressure motive power device for operating said regulator, a source of fluid pressure supply, means for controlling the operation of said motive power device, a fluid pressure responsive device for actuating said means and provided with an escape vent, a valve for controlling the escape of fluid through said vent to regulate the pressure upon said fluid pressure responsive device, and an electromagnet for actuating said valve to vary the size of said vent to vary the pressure upon said fluid pressure'responsive device.

3. The combination with a regulator, of a relay device for cont-rolling the operation thereof, said relay device being provided with fluid pressure actuated means having a vent through which the fluid may escape,

Besides being especially adapted a, seat formed around said vent, a ball val e scribed my name in the presence of two Wit arranged upon sald seat, and an electrlc nesses.

magnet for attracting said bill to control WiLLIAM L. BLISS, the pressure upon said fluid pressure actu-' Witnesses: 5 ated means. J. W. ROBERTSON,

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto sub- HERBERT J. SMITH; 

